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III Reserve Corps (German Empire)

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Country
  
German Empire

Type
  
Corps

III Reserve Corps (German Empire)

Active
  
2 August 1914 - post November 1918

Size
  
Approximately 38,000 (on formation)

Engagements
  
World War I Battle of the Frontiers Siege of Antwerp First Battle of Ypres

The III Reserve Corps (German: III. Reserve-Korps / III RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.

Contents

Formation

III Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914 as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by General der Infanterie Hans von Beseler, recalled from retirement. It was still in existence at the end of the war.

Structure on formation

On formation in August 1914, III Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions, made up of reserve units. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts

Reserve Infantry Regiments did not always have three battalions nor necessarily contain a machine gun company Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains

In summary, III Reserve Corps mobilised with 25 infantry battalions, 7 machine gun companies (42 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.

Combat chronicle

On mobilisation, III Reserve Corps was assigned to the 1st Army on the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914. It was detached from 1st Army to take part in the Siege of Antwerp thereby missing the 1st Army's early battles (Mons, Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, Arras). With the conclusion of the siege on 10 October 1914, it was assigned to 4th Army and took part in the First Battle of Ypres.

Commanders

III Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:

References

III Reserve Corps (German Empire) Wikipedia